SUMMARY

The DARPA/Army Netted Radar Program was initiated in 1977 to (1) develop modern radarprocessing and netting technology, and (2) demonstrate the operational advantages. In the Fallof 1978, a Phase I Demonstration was conducted at the Army Field Artillery Center, Ft. Sill, OK.The equipment for this Demonstration was two modified PPS-5 ground-based ground-surveillanceradars, and a Target Integration Center (TIC) with one remote display. A simple two radar netwas operated which showed the modified radar capability for automatic target acquisition andtracking, with remote control and display over a voice-grade radio link; also shown was thefeasibility and benefits of netting and automatically integrating radar data. As a result ofthe Phase I Demonstration, the Field Artillery School initiated a ROC (Required OperationalCapability) and an 0&0 (Operational and Organizational) concept for NURADS (Netted UniversalRadar System).

A distributed netted sensor system combines data from diverse sensors in various locationsand provides a real-time comprehensive picture of what all the sensors see. Any number ofusers may tap the integrated data stream and receive this picture simultaneously. The entiresystem is highly mobile and flexible. Adaptive response to tactical conditions is possible viaemission control and rapid relocation of sensor resources. Sensor angle and location diversityminimizes terrain masking and the effectiveness of min beam noise Jamming. A netted radarsystem is operable in all weather in mid Europe, and may be controlled and displayed from anydesired remote location over a standard telephone line or voice-grade anti-jam radio link.

This brochure describes the Phase II Netted Radar Demonstration, scheduled for the Fall1980 at Ft. Sill. A four-radar net will be operated, including two ground-based ground-surveillance radars, an airborne ground-surveillance radar representing a standoffmoving-target radar, and a counter-fire radar - the TPQ-36. Six Operational Demonstrationswill be performed, in support of NURADS, to illustrate the tactical value of this kind ofnetting. Multiple user displays will be utilized, including some hand-held militarized displayunits which are now being produced for another program.

There will also be a demonstration in which the Airborne Radar will be used to showmini-RPV radar capability to detect and track targets which alternately move and stop. Inaddition, a ground-based Advanced Ground Surveillance Radar will be present for comparison ofits performance with that of the modified PPS-5 radars. The AGSR was constructed to show thecapability of state-of-the-art technology for this kind of radar application.

The Operational Demonstrations are scheduled from mid-October through mid-November, 1980,to illustrate tactical netted-system potential. Visitor demonstrations are scheduled fromabout mid-November through mid-December.

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There are four key elements in a netted radar system: The Sensors, The Target Integration

Center (TIC), the Displays, and the Communications Links. The sensors are able to automaticallyacquire and track targets, sending the significant data in UTM coordinates over narrowband comnlinks to the TIC. The TIC automatically integrates sensor data and sends the compacted dataover narrowband comm links to users with displays.

The principal benefit of this sort of netted system is that a comprehensive real-time pic-ture of what all the sensors see is available to all the users simultaneously. A specific usermay choose to look at only a subset of the total data base, pertinent to his area of interestor mission. Co-n links only require standard telephone or field wire lines, or voice-grade radio.A user msy be at any distance from the TIC and still receive all data available, if he has areliable corn link to it. If the comm links are radios, a given user who is closer to a sensorthan to the TIC could tune in to its frequency and see data from it, during times he could notreceive corn from the TIC because of ECM or difficult terrain.

Other benefits of netting include reduced personnel requirements because of the highdegree of system automation; enhanced survivability from component mobility; coordinated netcountermeasures such as blinking of sensors; and the ability to acquire and bring fire on addi-tional target types, such as the Shoot-N-Scoot Multiple Rocket Launchers, via the netting ofdiverse sensor types. Some sensors may be moving to a new location while the net continuesoperation. Upon arriving at a new location, a sensor automatically surveys its location andattitude, either from known targets already in the net or by other available means, and thenimediately begins to contribute data as one of the net sensors.

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18-4 -21087, A, B,C

NETTED RADAR SYSTEM -DEFINITION

UERJI I "

SENSOR

-.. -- I.. ".. \ D F I N D F

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-~_ .... TARGET mr |INTEGRATION ---------.. E.

[ o t- -- I CENTER .

.... SENSOR DATA FLOW ..--- INTEGRATED DATA FLOW

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The Phase I Netted Radar Demonstration was held at Ft. Sill, OK during the periodOctober 1978 - February 1979. The equipment utilized consisted of two modified PPS-5 radars(TPS-5X unofficially) with support vans, VRC-46 radios, a Target Integration Center (calledRadar Control Center at that time), and a remote display.

Moving vehicles were tracked at 20 km range; helicopters, walking personnel, activitypoints, and artillery shellbursts were detected at shorter ranges. Noise jazmers were triangu-lated and their UTM coordinates automatically displayed. Audio doppler signature was used tomanually classify target types. Artillery fire was adjusted by observing the position of ashellburst relative to the desired impact point.

System performance generally equalled or exceeded expectations, and resulted in two majoraccomplishments. First, the improved performance of the TPS-5X radars was clearlydemonstrated. All targets within a radar's scan sector were simultaneously and automaticallyacquired and tracked, and the radars were remotely controlled and displayed over voice-graderadio links. Second, the feasibility of automatic integration of radar data was confirmed, andthe basic features of netting were illustrated with a simple two-radar net.

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The Phase II Netted Radar Demonstration includes the two TPS-5X radars as well as anAdvanced Airborne Radar (ABR) and the TPQ-36 mortar locating radar. Data from these fourradars is sent over narrowband comm links (VRC-46 radio, 1200 bps) to the TIC, where it isintegrated and sent over a voice-grade wire line to several remote displays in a nearbytrailer. Fire missions to and interaction with TACFIRE will be an important part of theDemonstration. Additional details concerning various system components are given further on.

Addition of an Airborne Radar will substantially extend the area visible to the nettedsensors by eliminating much of the terrain and tree masking. It will allow study of the issuesinvolved in automatically integrating data from an airborne moving-target radar with a movingplatform whose location must be continually updated, and ground-based moving-target radars.

Inclusion of a TPQ-36 counterfire radar in the net permits a demonstration of the benefitof netting diverse radar types, and the resulting ability to deal with additional kinds oftargets.

PHASE Ir NETTED RADAR DEMONSTRATION100836- N.A, 6 AIRBORNE

RAADAR

SUPPORT VAN

RADARAIO

CENTER

TACFIRE FA BNCOMPUTER CENTER ARONRM

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These objectives for the Phase II Netted Radar Demonstration were determined by the FieldArtillery School. They are intended to support development of the Army NURADS Program.

The Airborne Radar will be used to represent a standoff moving-target radar at about 20 kmrange, and to represent a mini-RPV radar at about 3 km range. Inclusion of the TPQ-36 and adata link to the TACFIRE Battalion Computer Center will allow study of the benefits of anintegrated target-acquisition/fire-delivery system which is largely automated. This makespossible advanced artillery tactics and capabilities, some of which are to be shown via theOperational Demonstrations planned for Objectives 4A-E. Data which is to be gathered will per-mit consideration of the utilization of the TIC as a filter for TACFIRE.

In 4A, the netted system ability to bring fire on to a highly mobile indirect-fire weapon,such as a Multiple Rocket Launcher, will be shown. There is no current artillery capability todeal with this target type, although there is increasing emphasis on shooting and moving inmodern tactical doctrine.

In 4B, the position of a HELBAT tank moving along a road will be predicted at a futuretime, assuming that it will continue on the road at a constant speed. A time-on-target firemission will be initiated with TACFIRE to show the ability to fire on moving targets.

In 4C, a Howitzer will be registered using an impact point about 1 km away from a rotatingcorner reflector which represents an activity point. A HE round will then be fired at theactivity point with the intention of placing it close enough for first-round destruction.

Demonstrations supporting 4D and 4E will be conducted to illustrate the system generalsurveillance and target acquisition ability, and the degree to which it can classify targettypes.

More complete descriptions of the Operational Demonstrations are given further on.

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PHASE II DEMONSTRATION OBJECTIVES

I. DEMONSTRATE NETTING OF AIRBORNE AND GROUND-BASEDMOVING-TARGET RADARS

2. INTEGRATE THE TPQ-36 COUNTERFIRE RADAR

3. DETERMINE THE BEST DATA-FLOW ROUTE BETWEEN THETPQ-36, TIC, AND TACFIRE

4. ANALYZE SELECTED APPLICATIONS OF COUNTERFIRE/MOVINGTARGET DATA

A. SHOOT-N-SCOOT TARGET ATTACKB. ATTACK MOVING TARGET ON ROADC. FIRST-ROUND KILL OF ACTIVITY POINTD. SIMULATED ASSAULTE. ARTILLERY BATTERY PATTERN RECOGNITION

5. DEMONSTRATE DISPLAY OF NETTED SENSOR DATA AT TICAND AT REMOTE LOCATION FROM TIC

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At Ft. Sill, two Active Displays and one Passive Display will be located in a trailernear the TIC van. In addition, an Active Display will be located in the van itself. ActiveDisplays can receive and display data from the TIC, and can command the modes and coverages ofthe radars (except the TPQ-36 in this instance). They are Megatek black and white vectordisplays, a photo of which appears on page 7r. Passive Displays can only receive and displaythe TIC data. The Passive Display will be a hand-held militarized display currently being iro-duced for another program by Litton Data Systems.

It is planned to have one Active Display and one Passive Display at a remote location,e.g. the Pentagon or an Army Facility, to make the Visitor Demonstrations available in real-time to a wider audience.

Each Passive Display has certain limited operator options: zoom, UTM coordinates ofscreen center, UTM grid on display, and road network background. Each Active Dislay has theseand other operator options such as real-time insertion of unit boundary lines or no-fire lines.This data is sent to the TIC, stored there in memory, and passed to all other displays.

The photos at the right show the (off-line-digitized) road network background, the radars'coverage lines, and various target types in track (walking personnel - targets 73 and 90, acti-vity point - target 158, helicopter - target 199, vehicles on Bailey Turnpike - right photo).The upper number in the target tag is the track number; the lower number is the target'scurrent true speed in meters per second.

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The TIC for the Phase II Demonstration is housed in a van, shown in the photo at theright. This van contains recording and test equipment which would not be part of a militarizedTIC. The essence of a militarized TIC would be a computer similar to the Data General EclipseS/130 (lower left in lower left photo), several radios (upper left in lower left photo), and adisplay somewhat smaller than the Megatek display shown in the lower right photo.

In Phase II, the TICs function is to receive data from the radars, integrate it, and passit on to the displays. It also transmits commands from any Active Display to the radars, andtext messages from any Active Display or radar to any other display or radar. Once on line, itruns automatically, without people present, and permits control and display of the entirenetted system from any Active Display.

In addition, the TIC for Phase II has been equipped with a TACFIRE interface. Nettedradar message formats (both digital and voice) are automatically converted to TACFIRE formatsand vice versa for both transmission and reception of TACFIRE messages. These messages areable to be sent or received at any Active Display.

The TIC has both digital and analog recording and playback capabilities. All digital,voice, or analog messages sent or received during the Operational Demonstrations will berecorded for later analysis.

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The Advanced Airborne Radar (ABR) operates in the frequency range 16.0 - 16.5 GHz. It hasa 7 milliradian 2-way azimuth beam, electronically scanned +30", and a 2-way vertical beam ofabout 18. Data gathered by the radar is sent over a broadband (10 Mbps) link to a ground sup-port van, where it is processed in real-time, reduced to a rate of about 1200 bps, and sent tothe TIC. A militarized version of such a radar would have much more data processing on boardthe aircraft, and a narrowband link to the ground station.

The aircraft has an Inertial Navigation System (INS) which is periodically corrected bydata from several Distance Measuring Units (DMUs) on the ground. This equipment determinesthe accurate location of detected targets and makes possible the reporting of their UTM co-ordinates to the TIC.

The ABR will be used in Phase II to represent a standoff moving-target radar system,so as to permit study of the issues in integrating airborne and ground based MTI radars. Inthe standoff moving-target radar mode, it will have a down-look angle of 3* - 6, and be ableto see moving tank-size vehicles at about 20 km range. It will also have a mini-RPV mode, inwhich it will represent what. might be seen with a radar which could be housed and operated in acurrently-developing mini-RPV. In this mode, the radar will detect both stationary and movingvehicles at about 3 km range, with a down-look angle of 3.

This radar and ground support van were originally developed for the HOWLS Program, andused for data gathering and algorithm development. Modifications have been made during thepast year or so which permit real-time signal and data processing, and reporting of targets inUTM coordinates over a narrowband link.

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The RF (radio frequency) portion of a modified PPS-5 radar (TPS-sX unofficially) is shownat the right. The antenna has a 15 mil 2-way azimuth beamwidth and is mechanically scannable;its elevation beamwidth is 43 mils 2-way. The radar operates in the frequency range 16.0 - 16.5GHz.

A radar support van is nearby, housing the signal and data processing equipment, a Megatekdisplay, radios, and test and recording equipment. The militarized version of this equipmentwould be small enough and light enough to be readily carried in the rear of a 1/4T truck. Amockup of this equipment has been constructed.

The TPS-5X radar is able to detect and track moving tank-size targets at about 20 kmrange. Its azimuth scan is variable from 0* to about 90" and it scans at the rate of 18" persecond. Its range scan sector is variable from 50m to 16 kin, with its processing designed fora minimum range of about 1 km and a maximum range of 30 km. Modern digital processing enablesthe system to automatically detect and track simultaneously all targets within its scansector. In addition to moving vehicles, it can detect low-flying aircraft, rotating radarantennas, moving personnel, activity points, artillery shellbursts, and azimuths of noiseJammers. Ten histories are kept on each track.

Several kinds of activity maps are also kept by the radar, for each 500m x 500m sector inthe scan coverage. Data is compiled on (1) the number of single-scan detections, with a 10-minutefading memory; (2) the single-scan detections which are not used in forming track files; (3) thenumber of track files active; (4) the number of track files terminated. These data are sentover the radar's narrowband com link to the TIC together with the usual target track filereports. Alternatively, the radar may be instructed to send the activity maps together withall single-scan detections in its scan sector.

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During the past two years, work has progressed on a new ground-based Advanced GroundSurveillance Radar (AGSR). A brassboard version of this radar operates in the frequency range5.25 to 5.65 GHz. Its antenna is a cylindrical array electronically steerable over 360" inazimuth. This permits it to simultaneously support all the modes which the TPS-5X radar canonly utilize sequentially.

The AGSR was built to demonstrate what modern technology could achieve in realizing ahigh-performance high-ECCM ground surveillance radar. It is not formally a part of the Phase IINetted Radar Demonstration, but will be tested at Ft. Sill during the same period as a stand-alone radar. A remote display will permit a convenient comparison of its performance with thatof the TPS-5X radars.

Antenna beamwidth is 55 mils two-way in azimuth. Elevation beamwidth is 60 mils two-way,with a -10 dB shoulder extending out another 60 mils or so for low-altitude high-performanceaircraft detection and tracking. The radar has several important ECCM features, including lowazimuth sidelobes, random frequency hopping, and tapered pulses. Its data output format issimilar to that of the TPS-5X, and it is capable of being remotely controlled and displayed innetted operation over a narrowband comm link.

The brassboard version of the radar will be mounted on top of its support van, whichhouses the signal and data processing equipment, a Megatek display, and recording equipment.It will automatically detect and track moving targets in several operator-specifiable areas ofinterest at independently-selectable update rates, while detecting shellbursts in other areas,and passively determining the azimuth bearings of noise jammers. Alternatively, the AGSR canbe operated in its low-altitude aircraft detection mode. In a tactical version, this modewould operate simultaneously with the ground-surveillance modes.

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The Phase II Netted Radar Demonstration is scheduled to be completed in December 1980.A report is to be prepared for each Operational Demonstration, summarizing the findings and itspotential for implementation in a tactical environment. It is expected that the results of thePhase II Demonstration will confirm feasibility of the NURADS concept, and show some of itsbenefits. However, there are several additional important considerations which have to beaddressed as the procurement cycle is traversed.

Further testing is needed with more emphasis on using the Netted Radar equipment in simu-lated tactical situations, such as in an Army field exercise. This would allow Army personnelto operate the equipment, and permit the gathering of data to formulate the best Operationaland Organizational concept. An additional possibility is to test the equipment in support ofpeacetime monitoring of borders between countries.

Effort is required on examining the critical issues related to implementation of NURADS.Questions about which users should get what data, reliable anti-jam comm links, algorithms toautomatically recognize target types, etc., are important to a successful cost-effective pro-curement and utilization.

Looking more toward the future, one can envision expanding the NURADS-proposed net toinclude such sensors as the mini-RPV, sound-flash units, artillery FOs, possibly REMBASS, andothers. Which sensors should be netted, in what manner, and what benefits are to be realized,are issues which need to be studied.

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CONSIDERATIONS IN IMPLEMENTATION OF NURADS

0 OPERATIONAL TESTING OF SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

IN ARMY FIELD EXERCISES UNDER VARIOUS CONDITIONS

0 RESOLUTION OF CRITICAL ISSUES IN

TACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION

0 STUDY OF WHICH ADDITIONAL SENSOR SYSTEMS

OUGHT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE NET

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OPERATIONAL DEMONSTRATIONS

1. MINI-RPV RADAR UTILIZATION

Obj ective:To demonstrate the all-weather stationary and moving target location capabilities of a

real-aperture mini-RPV radar, and the continuity of track of targets which alternately stopand move.

Overview:The Airborne Radar will be flown in a "square" pattern, keeping a 2 km

2 area under

constant surveillance at a range of about 2.5 km. This simulates what might be done with areal-aperture mini-RPV radar such as could be carried by a currently-developing mini-RFV.

A convoy of vehicles will move within the surveillance area, occasionally stopping forshort periods. The Airborne Radar will detect the vehicles both when they are moving andwhen they are stopped, and report their coordinates to the TIC van. The Active DisplayObservers will determine the conditions under which it is possible to manually maintaintarget track continuity, and the utility of the data for military purposes.

2. ARTILLERY BATTERY PATTERN RECOGNITION

Obj ective:To determine the feasibility of recognizing a field artillery battery moving into a

position by observation with a ground surveillance radar.

Overview:

RSOP (reconnaissance, selection, and occupation of position) exercises will be

observed at Ft. Sill with a TPS-5X radar, utilizing the activity cluster mode. Groundtruth will be recorded by an observer at the RSOP site and compared with the situationdeduced by the Active Display Observers from the Active Display.

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3. SIMULATED ASSAULT

Objectives:To determine the ability of the Netted Radar system to detect and classify

helicopters, vehicles, and personnel in a simulated assault scenario.

Overview:A simulated FEBA will be specified, with the two TPS-5X radars and the Airborne Radar

located on the one side looking toward the other. Several convoys consisting ofhelicopters, vehicles, and personnel will approach the FEBA from the enemy side. TheNetted Radar system will be scanning this area to detect and, to the extent possible,classify target types in the approaching force. The Active Display Operator will simulatesending fire missions to TACFIRE and helicopter warning information to the ExecutiveC2

system.

4. ATTACK MOVING TARGET ON ROAD

Objectives:A. To demonstrate the ability to attack a target moving on a road with radar and field

artillery, using a time-on-target (TOT) procedure.

B. To demonstrate the ability to attack a target moving on a road with radar and fieldartillery, using an at-my-comand (AMC) procedure.

C. To demonstrate the ability to attack a moving target stopped by FASCAM, using radarand field artillery.

Overview:A 155m Howitzer will be registered by one of the TPS-5X radars, using the procedure

described in Operational Demonstration No. 7. Sometime afterward, a HELBAT tank will beginto move along a predetermined cleared road in an Impact Area. The tank will be tracked bythe radar.

For Objective A, the Active Display Operator (ADO) will initiate a TOT fire missionwith TACFIRE. At the specified time, an inert HELBAT round will be fired by the Howitzerat the estimated tank position. The radar will detect the round impact and report itslocation relative to the actual tank location.

For Objective B, the procedure is the same except that the ADO will initiate an AMCfire mission with TACFIRE.

For Objective C, A FASCAM distribution will be simulated, and the moving target firedupon when it stops at the FASCAM obstacle.

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OPERATIONAL DEMONSTRATIONS (continued)

5. FIRST ROUND KILL OF ACTIVITY POINT

Ob ective:To demonstrate ability to use radar and a previously-registered Howitzer to direct

fire at an activity point with sufficient accuracy for first round kill.

Overview:A 155mm Howitzer will be registered by one of the TPS-5X radars, using the procedure

described in Operational Demonstration No. T. A Moving Target Simulator (MTS), repre-senting an Acitvity Point, about 1 km from the registration point, will then be turned onand tracked by the radar. The Active Display Operator (ADO) will initiate a fire missionto TACFIRE, and the Howitzer will fire one HE round at the MTS with the goal of first-roundkill. A first-round impact which is close enough will knock over or destroy the MTS,causing its track to disappear from the Active Display.

6. SHOOT-N-SCOOT TARGET ATTACK

Obj ectives:To demonstrate the ability to attack a hostile indirect-fire weapon which fires and

quickly moves to another location before it can be fired upon. Three distinct data-flowarrangements will be tested to determine which is quickest and most convenient.

A. Targeting data will flow from the TFQ-36 radar to the TIC and then to TACFIRE.

B. Targeting data will flow from the TPQ-36 radar to TACFIRE and then to the TIC.

C. Targeting data will flow from the TPQ-36 radar to TACFIRE and the TICsimultaneously.

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Overview:A 155mm Howitzer will fire a round which will be detected by the TPQ-36 radar. The

location of the Howitzer will be reported to the TIC and shown on the Active Display.X minutes after the TPQ-36 reports, a tracked vehicle, parked near it, will begin to moveto a new firing point. This represents the Howitzer moving shortly after firing. X willhave values of 1, 3, 5 in different tests.

A soon as the TPQ-36 reports the location of the Howitzer, a fire mission will be ini-tiated through TACFIRE. However, before the mission can be executed, the simulatedHowitzer movement occurs. The movement is tracked by the Airborne ground-surveillanceradar and shown on the Active Display. The Active Display Operator (ADO) correlates thetrack with the marked Howitzer location and cancels the fire mission to TACFIRE.

The tracked vehicle, representing the Howitzer, will move about 1 km to a new firingpoint and stop. At that time, the ADO will initiate a new fire mission to TACFIRE. Thisdemonstation will be run several times with targeting data routed differently, as describedunder Objectives above.

. REGISTRATION OF HOWITZER WITH MTI RADAR

Objectives:To register fire from a Howitzer using shellburst detection with an MTI radar.

Overview:TACFIRE will request the TIC to observe shellbursts at vicinity of specified

coordinates, for the purpose of registering fire from a Howtizer. The Active DisplayOperator will note the centroid of the last three shellbursts of the group fired, andreport it to TACFIRE.

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